Cessna 335 accident near Pontiac, Michigan, July 14, 1989
On July 14, 1989 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 335, registered N2706T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland Pontiac airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR EXTENSION/RETRACTION COMPONENT RESULTING FROM UNACCEPTABLE LOADS INCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1989 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland Pontiac
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 335 · all 335s on the register
- Registration
- N2706T · registry record · serial 3350017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,052 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,066 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 1988; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,912 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DET Detroit MI at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27L, 6,250 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from PTK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.